GATEHOUSE recorded a spirited defeat when they faced league leaders Victoria in Glasgow on Saturday.

Although they lost to a side that has gone through the season unbeaten, Gatehouse became the first team to bowl Victoria out and the first side their opponents had failed to dismiss.

The hosts decided to bat after winning the toss and the openers thrashed nearly every ball to the boundary. They raced to 98 runs in 10 overs before Willie Gorman had Hussain trapped leg before for 57.

Wickets then began to tumble. A run later, Andy Vickers took other opener Asif when he was caught by Kevin Bellis for 25 before Willie Gorman clean-bowled Ahmed for one.

Victoria only put on one more run before Andy Vickers ran Faisill out for 12. It was a cheeky dismissal as the batsman was run out while backing up and Gatehouse skipper Murdoch was going to overturn the decision.

However, the home captain – who was umpiring – gave his man out as a warning as he has done this on several previous occasions.

The dismissal seemed to spur Victoria back into action as they quickly piled on another 50 runs in four overs before Kevin Bellis clean-bowled Qayum for 25 and Bob Davidson had Ghaffor brilliantly caught by Fraser Conn for 37.

Wickets continued to fall, John Smith taking Musdaq in the slips off the bowling of Davidson for 12 before youngsters Laughlan Hughes and Glen Montgomery entered the attack.

Each took a wicket in their first overs as Laughlan clean-bowled Ballil for nought and Glen had Qudoos snaffled by John Smith for 25.

The same fielder finished the innings when he took a slip catch from Nasir for nought off Davidson.

It was the first time all season Victoria had been bowled out, finishing on 268 off 34 overs.

Davidson took three for 37, Gorman two for 28, Bellis one for 44, Vickers one for 53, Hughes one for 25 and Montgomery one for 12.

Willie Martin and Fraser Conn opened for Gatehouse and raced to 27 before Willie was clean-bowled by Nasir for seven. John Smith and Fraser kept the score ticking along until John was clean-bowled by Nasir for four, with the score on 50.

Fraser tried to push the score along but was caught and bowled by Musdaq for 21. Andy Vickers and Kevin Bellis passed their 50 partnership before Andy misjudged a shot and was caught by Asif off Qayum for 32.

Willie Gorman joined Kevin and they batted fiercely until Willie edged one to the keeper for 16. Kevin continued, playing carefully one minute and thrashing balls to the boundary the next, with the score passing 150, enough for an extra batting point.

However, Matt then nicked one on to his off-stump and was gone for eight.

Bob Davidson and Mark Johnston failed to trouble the scorer, Bob being dismissed first ball, and once Mark was gone Laughlan Hughes joined Kevin. The youngster batted sensibly and allowed Kevin to get to his 50.

When the overs ran out they were still there, Kevin on 56 and Laughlan on three as Gatehouse finished on 175 for eight – the first time Victoria had failed to dismiss opponents.

Victoria’s skipper wondered how Gatehouse have finished bottom of the league, having given them their hardest game of the season, and it was explained they had trouble getting 11 experienced players every week.

The performance of Bellis with the bat was outstanding, as was John Smith’s slip catching.

This Saturday, Gatehouse play their last game of the season at home against Kirkstyle, starting at noon.